It is Pirie’s loss but Whyalla’s gain as Mark and Leanne Carter, their sons Gerard and William and daughter Louise are keen to be involved in the Whyalla Football League Umpires Association.

Mr Carter is a goal umpire, Gerard, 15, has been

boundary umpiring for five years, Louise, 17, started

goal umpiring last football season and the youngest Carter, William, 12, also new to umpiring, does the

boundary.

Mrs Carter was a valuable acquisition for the Umpires Association while holding the position of secretary and she said if the Whyalla Umpires League needed help she would put up her hand. Eldest son, eighteen-year-old Terence has been umpiring for seven years, both boundary and field and is moving to Adelaide to pursue his dream of umpiring for the SANFL.

Squad training begins this week when the aspiring young umpire will have the opportunity to show his skills.

Mr Carter, along with his family, moved to Port Pirie from Murray Bridge seven years ago with the National Bank.

During employment in the bank, Mr and Mrs Carter have moved to 15 different homes in 20 years and like the lifestyle of change.

“Pirie has great people and we have loved living here but it is time to move on,” Mrs Carter said.“Change is good and we now need new challenges to keep us enthused. The children were apprehensive at first but hopefully we will find great people in Whyalla also.”

Since June 2009, Mr Carter who changed jobs has commuted each day from his employment in Port Augusta.

“Whyalla was a good choice because it is close to Port Augusta for Mark and Louise whose passion is cooking.

“They can go to Samaritan College where a Chef runs the hospitality course.”

When it was suggested the family would be greatly missed for their contribution to the Umpiring Association, Mrs Carter said, “It is good to have people moving through clubs and bringing in new ideas and a fresh outlook.”

No doubt replacing five enthusiastic umpires and a competent administrator is going to be a hard task for the Port Pirie Football League Umpires Association.